Stair-covering apparatus



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6 z 3 a L 4 i W v w m '7 A C. M. MOLINELLI STAIR COVERING APPARATUS Filed May 1928 Sept 11, 1928 WIT SSES 2F Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. MOLINELLI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STAIR-COVERING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 9, 1928. Serial No. 276,380.

This invention relates to a stair covering apparatus and more specifically to an improved arrangement of frames adapted to fit against the treads on risers of the stairway and support independent floor covering sections such, for example, as carpet; linoleum or any other material in the form of separate independent sections or pads.

IVith my improved apparatus, the stairs can be easily and convenientlv covered and re covered or sections or pads replaced by any one, and not requiring skilled labor.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a fragment of a stairway illustrating my mproved apparatus in operative position thereon;

Figure 2 is a broken exaggerated view In section through one of the tread covering frames, the View being taken transversely of the frame and showing a pad or floor covering section in position for operative engagement with the frame;

Figure 3 is a broken view in section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the pad or floor covering in place;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in vertical section of one of the riser frames, the view being taken on the section line 4-4 of Figure 5, with a section of carpet or other covering in position for movement in the frame;

Figure 5 is a view in section, on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, with the covering or pad in position on the frame;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of one of the riser frames to illustrate a movable pin and an operating means to secure the frame in place.

1 represents a stairway composed of treads 2 and risers 3, the treads at their forward edges projecting beyond the plane of the risers, as is customary in the art, forming what is known in the trade as a nose 4 on the tread.

My improved apparatus includes a frame 5 for location on the treads 2, and frames 6 for location against the front faces of the risers 3; and it is of course to be understood that I may employ as many of these frames 5 and 6 as there are steps on the stairway.

The frames 5 are of general rectangular form and of proper size, and the end members of the frames 5 at their forward ends are curved downwardly and rearwardly, as shown at 7, so as to project over and under the nose 4 of the tread, and these frames have pins 8 therein to be forced into the tread and hold the frames against accidental movement.

The end portions, at least, of each frame 5 are made with grooves 9 in their inner faces, receiving beads 10 on the ends of the pads or floor covering sections 11 of any suitable'material. These pads 11 may be formed in various ways but it is of course to he understood that they are flexible so that, when the pad is moved into the frame, the heads will follow the curvature of the grooves 9 and will extend over the nose portions 4 of the treads.

The frames 6, positioned against the front faces of the risers 3, are also of general rectangular form, all members of which are rabbeted and provided with grooves 12 for the reception of beads 13 adjacent the edges of a pad or covering section 14, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The frames 5 at their rear ends are recessed, as shown at 15, to receive the riser frames 6 therein, and said riser frames at their ends are provided with manually movable pins 16 which may be moved upwardly and projected into the under faces of the noses of treads 2 to securely hold the riser frames against accidental displacement.

While of course I do not limit myself to the particular manner of moving these pins 16, I have shown one form which may answer the purpose which includes a tongue 17 fixed to the pin 16 and movable in a slot 18 in frame 6.

With an apparatus such as above described, I may use carpet in the form of small rugs, or I may use linoleum or any other covering, either in the form of flat pieces or pads; and in the employment of this term covering I would have it understood that I use the same in its broadest possible sense to cover any material which may be used for the purpose.

Various changes and alterations might be made in the general form of the parts described without departing from my invention and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A device of the character described, including a rectangular frame adapted to be positioned on the tread of a stairway, said frame having its forward portion curved rearward- 8 1y an adapted to project over and under the nose of the tread, the members of said frame having'grooves in their inner faces, floor covering sections having beads thereon movable in said grooves, frames adapted to 10 be positioned against the risers of the stairway, floor covering sections supported by said last mentioned frames, and movable pins mounted in the riser frames and adapted to be forced upwardly under the nose portions of the tread.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 7th day of May, A. D. 1928.

CHARLES M. MOLINELLI. 

